Anti-social youths banned from Leeds tower blocks

Shakespeare Court in Leeds is one of the tower blocks to which the court order pertains

Access to more than a dozen tower blocks in Leeds has been blocked in an effort to tackle anti-social behaviour.

Recent court orders state only residents and authorised visitors are allowed in communal areas of the specified blocks, such as foyers, landings, storage areas, stairwells and lifts.

Anyone entering those areas without permission now faces the possibility of arrest, Leeds City Council said.

The 15 blocks are situated in the Burmantofts and Richmond Hill ward. The court orders are in place for an initial three-month period, with an option to extend.

Magistrates granted the orders after a joint council and police team found evidence of drug dealing and other unlawful activity at the tower blocks.

Residents also reported feeling "alarmed" by youths congregating in communal areas and "causing a nuisance", said the council.

Authorised visitors include friends, relatives and tradespeople.

The council said it hoped the orders will "drive away criminals" who may have used the tower blocks to "gain a foothold" in the area.

The housing blocks covered by the restrictions are Ferriby Towers, Lincoln Towers, Lindsey Mount, Spalding Towers, Naseby Grange, Boston Towers, Cherry Court, Grantham Towers, Marston Mount, Shakespeare Court, Shakespeare Towers and Shakespeare Grange, as well as all three blocks at Cromwell Heights.

Spalding Towers has also been pinpointed as a focus for anti-social and criminal behaviour

Residents said the situation had already improved since the court orders were granted at the start of May.

One resident in Cromwell Heights said: “People aren’t hanging around here anymore, it’s much quieter.”

Another, who lives in the Shakespeare Court, Shakespeare Towers and Shakespeare Grange complex, agreed "it's been a lot better":“The teenage boys have all gone and there has been less damage."

Councillor Mary Harland, Leeds City Council’s executive member for communities, customer service and community safety, said: “We are determined to ensure Leeds is a place filled with communities that are welcoming, inclusive and, above all else, safe.

“No one should ever be in a position where they feel worried about opening their door, or getting into a lift."

Insp Alastair Nicholls, of the Leeds East Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “We believe these partial closure orders will have a positive effect on residents’ quality of life - by putting a barrier in place to persons congregating and potentially offending in communal areas."

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